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Thursday, December 03, 2015

Aftelier Vanilla Smoke (Giveaway!)

***There's a giveaway at the bottom of the post, so don't miss it!***

A cup of steaming lapsang souchong, a bowl filled with wedges of bright and juicy mandarin orange, a bottle of aged brandy, a plate of heavily spiced crisp cookies, a fire roaring behind the grate. This is Aftelier's Vanilla Smoke and it puts you right away in the holiday spirit. Perfumer Mandy Aftel did what I've long hoped she will: a vanilla perfume, touching on gourmand but not quite.

Vanilla Smoke is cozy and atmospheric. The opening notes show you the tempting mandarin segments through the smoke, and make you take a step closer, sit at the rustic wood table and inhale the various aromas. That's when the richness of the dark tea takes over, and every sip is comforting and warming. The perfume becomes even bolder, as boozy vanilla and spice unfold on skin. This is not a fluffy pink vanilla and neither a floral-tropical one. Instead, we get the dark and intense quality of an excellent Madagascar vanilla extract: raw, alcoholic, intensely vanillic, and very resinous. There's no hint of sweetness, and even after hours on my skin there's no hint of cupcake. The gourmand elements come from the spices and very grownup drinks (at what age do people start appreciating lapsang souchong?).

The first time I tested Vanilla Smoke I didn't apply enough. It seemed so intense, as many Aftelier perfumes are, that I though one or two drops were enough. But it made me miss parts of the development that I only discovered later when I started wearing more (and more. Because I was developing a mild addiction). Vanilla Smoke remains spicy and smoky, but also takes on a very animalic quality that translates on my skin into worn leather, soft and smooth but neither horsey nor handbagy. Maybe a well-traveled leather trunk or an expensive vintage coat. I think of this perfume as an indoors treat, as I've realized that the harsh chill of a NYC night mutes it until you're back inside and your skin warms up and regains an intimate feel.

Mandy Aftel's interpretation of vanilla is thoroughly gender-free. It's also very elegant and. You can't even compare it to popular boozy tobacco and vanilla perfumes, and not because it's a natural perfume, but because it doesn't try to be sweet or loud, or even what we often consider as "yummy". Mandy Aftel created a seductive perfume that's perfect for long nights whether you wear long flannel pajamas or a silky little thing to be discovered under the covers.

And now for the giveaway: We're doing a random draw of a Vanilla Smoke mini (retail value $50).

To participate please comment and tell us what perfume(s) you're planning to wear the most during the holidays.

The draw is open worldwide (yay!). The prize will be sent directly by Mandy Aftel, so by leaving a comment answering the question above you agree to give her your address. When commenting please leave your name and a way to contact you, since anonymous comment no. 64 is not exactly easy to figure out. The draw is regulated by the State of New Jersey, because it's the law and that's where I live.
The draw will close on Friday night, midnight EST.

Vanilla Smoke by Aftelier ($50-$180, depending on size and concentration, $6 for a sample) can be purchased from aftelier.com. The sample for this review was sent by the perfumer.

105 comments:

Thanks for the giveaway! I haven't smelled Vanilla Smoke, but your descrption makes IT sound like the perfect holiday scent. Failing that, I actually picked up a Frankincense & Myrrh rollerball at the local health food store that's pretty nice, and on point for the season.

Thank you for this draw. Lapsang Souchong is one of my favorite teas. I can only drink it in the mornings now, because I have yet to find a decaffeinated one, and I am now hyper sensitive to caffeine......Vanilla smoke sounds lovely....

I'm going to wear two of my favorites, though not at the same time. i am going to wear Tom Ford Grey Vetiver....a wonderful friend gave it to me for my birthday this year, and I'm going to wear my party time classic, Aramis .

Living in Sydney, we always have a sweltering Christmas. I plan to wear White Linen…. again. I try in vain to find a new signature scent, but always go back to White Linen, so fresh and light for this hot weather. Although, Tocca’s Bianca might be what I’ll ask Santa for. Thanks for the giveaway ([email protected])

I've just discovered that I love the way Clinique Aromatics smells on, so I think I will be wearing that the most (followed by April Aromatics' Erdenstern since I missed wearing that this past spring/summer!)

Brilliant giveaway, thank you very much both of you. It sounds like a vanilla fragrance for me, as I definitely prefer my vanillas as non-yummy as possible ;-)As for holiday season fragrances I seem to be in a very Caron mode: or et noir, parfum sacre and of course nuit de noël. So I assume I'll be wearing these three a lot.

Thank you for the giveaway! If I judge by how the last holiday season went, I am likely to wear Andy Tauer's Eau d'épices more than anything else (just writing about it makes me think of Christmas :-)), but there will be serious rotations going on (including his Rose Flash and Ormonde Jayne's Woman). I do not seem to fit in any other profile, hence the "Anonymous", but I live in the UK and can be reached at [email protected]tmail.com.

What a lovely giveaway! I would love to win a sample of Vanilla Smoke...it sounds amazing. The perfume I tend to wear the most around the holidays is Kenzo Jungle L'elephant as to me it has all the spice and magic of Christmas. My name is Celeste, and I thank you for this opportunity and also for your very fun blog.

How lovely! As the holiday season concerns, I think I might finally open the bottle of Mona di Orio's Vanille. My mother gave it to me on my 51th birthday and now the moment has come. And then there's always Nuit de Noel...

I'll be wearing a lot of Jubilation 25, which I recently got and am swooning for. Also my winter heavy hitters, like Shalimar, Kenzo Jungle, Organza Indecence. The last two I have in minis, which is totally enough of such rich perfumes. Aside from that I've been test driving La Fille de Berlin and liking it a lot.

Oh wow, this is so nice; I've been reading such amazing things about this scent & would love to try it. Fille en Aiguilles always works well for me this time of year, as does Neela Vermeire's Trayee and Amouage Interlude Man.

I wear vintage Chantilly. It goes with my farm chores, shopping and special events. It goes with me all day long and into the evening. I smell like warm feathers,fuzzy horses and hay along with a bit of Chantilly everyday. Just because I am a farmer does not mean I can't smell nice, too.

Thank you, Ms Aftel, and dear NB! Happy Holiday season to all, and I enjoy reading what everyone is planning to wear. This post made me think and I decided I would lavishly use up some hoarded treasures. First will be Estee Lauder Private Collection and a partial purse spray of vintage Miss Dior (DARE I wear it to my office?). If those run out, I may go with some samples of incense and spice perfumes, which I love, but have to admit do not work as well for me as florals.

Oooo, I am enthralled with the perfume already… and need some Lapsang, brandy, spiced cookies and a fireplace now as well! I am planning to wear the Bottega Veneta by Bottega Veneta,.. waiting for the first wintry day to cozy up to this fragrance.

It's amazing. Everything I hear about Vanilla Smoke is positive. It would be fun to win this for a Christmas "gift". :) I will probably wear what makes me think of warm, tropical, places. My 2 newest loves are Moon Bloom and Hawaiian Flower Lei perfume oil. I'm at: bal.a.versailles.1 at gmail.com

Dear Gaia! Thank you for the draw: I'd love to be counted in. I have never tried Mandy Aftel's scents and I'm dying to... These holidays, I plan to overdose on Lutens' MKK, mostly. I've decided to be brave and wear it to the big family christmas dinner - I don't care if it's risky, I want to feel comfortable. Other perfumes I hope to lean on to get me through the cold are Tauers Phi and Le Maroc pour Elle, both of which you are somehow partly responsible for: my addiction for all of Tauers rose-centered perfumes was set-off by reading your blog. My children are grateful - they love it. Happe holidays!Isis

Thank you so much for the giveaway!! I plan on wearing Mandy Aftel's Gardenia also, Madini oils of Tangier's Azahar. http://youtu.be/S4ZqO5Zq9QYDos Gardenias para ti two gardenias* for youcon ellas quiero decir with them I want to sayte quiero; te adoro; mi vida. I love you; I adore you; my life (1)Ponles toda tu atencion Put on them all your attentionporque son tu corazon y el mio. as they are your heart and mineDos Gardenias para ti two gardenias for youque tendran todo el calor de un beso.that will have all the heat (warmth) of a kiss

Thank you so much for the giveaway!! I plan on wearing Mandy Aftel's Gardenia also, Madini oils of Tangier's Azahar. http://youtu.be/S4ZqO5Zq9QYDos Gardenias para ti two gardenias* for youcon ellas quiero decir with them I want to sayte quiero; te adoro; mi vida. I love you; I adore you; my life (1)Ponles toda tu atencion Put on them all your attentionporque son tu corazon y el mio. as they are your heart and mineDos Gardenias para ti two gardenias for youque tendran todo el calor de un beso.that will have all the heat (warmth) of a kiss

Currently indulging my gourmand side with Kilian's Back to Black and L'Artisan Parfumeur Noir Exquis - an accidental fumble of one of the samples left my fingers doused and the two are amazing together! Tonka Imperiale is also satisfying the desire for a hay scent.

How fun! Thank you for the giveaway! This holiday season and the winter in general I plan on wearing Jeux De Peau by Serge and my other favorite right now Bois Farine by L'Artisan. However New Years Eve I will wear a few spritzes of my vintage PRE reformulation parfum SHALIMAR!! When I wear that fragrance you know it's a holiday - the citrus opening is still intact prior to the smokey animalic vanilla finish. I used to wear Aftelier's Blonde Tabac (purchased at Bergdorf's many many years ago) her Vanilla Smoke sounds FANTASTIC.

i read aftel's book, essence and alchemy, when it first came out and considered it one of my favorite books. it's definitely time for a reread, but what i recall is that it wasn't a book only for the perfume enthusiast, rather a read for anyone who is drawn to sensory experience of any sort in life, particularly those that are textured and nuanced and nature-based. as a creative person, i loved it. however, i don't wear much when it comes to scent except sometimes vetiver essential oil.. mainly because i'm a starving artist type. i've been imagining what vanilla smoke is like and would be so happy to smell it and wear it. my name is liane and i can be emailed at [email protected]

I plan to wear Aviation Club by Monsillage, vintage Chanel Coco and Aramis. Aviation Club is a somewhat recent discovery while Chanel and Coco and Aramis are from my teen/adult years (over 30 years ago!). Vanilla Smoke sounds amazing! Thanks for offering this giveaway!

I am happy I finally figured out how to comment! Thanks for the giveaway. I love the smell of vanilla but have been disappointed with most of the vanilla-based perfumes I have tried. From your review, Vanilla Smoke sounds like it could be the one. During the Holiday season and the onset of Winter I plan to wear Serge Lutens Fleur d'Orange, Chergui and Fille de Berlin. Also in my line-up are Papillon Anubis and Salome. I truly enjoy your blog and thank you again for the chance to win Vanilla Smoke.

Normally I shy away from vanilla based perfumes because they are too much like candy but this sounds like one I can definitely get behind! For the holidays I will probably wear Jazz Club (Maison Martin Margiela) or my tiny sample of Amouage Beloved Woman (it will knock people out but I love it). evangelia(at)aol(dot)com

I am sensitive to chemical perfume so I am limited in my choices. My favorite perfumes are Mandy's Tango and the old Boronia, but I can't really afford more than samples! :) I wear Burts Bees Radiance. I love to smell campfires and leathery things, and am really excited by the thought of a non-cupcakey vanilla acent. Even walking past those fake-vanilla candles makes me feel ill Thanks for making the real thing, Mandy! [email protected]

Living in Melbourne (the Australian one), the weather can range from rather chilly (I remember well the Christmas of 2006, when it was a distinctly un-balmy 16 C), to rather on the warm side (35 C+). So my perfume selection will depend on that. Really hot: Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca (Guerlain) - helps to convince your brain that you're nice and cool, rather than hot and frazzled. Bronze Goddess (Estee Lauder) is another option, especially 'appropriate' if you're heading down to the beach

Mild-Warm: This could be virtually anything, but given my love for (original) Yvresse (YSL) I'd probably go for that

Cool-Cold: Actually, boring as it may be, I'd probably go for Yvresse again! Or perhaps Le Dix (Balenciaga), which is just so sumptuous in lower temps

Thanks so much for the draw, and for your alway enjoyable and informative blog :)

Triomphe by Rancé. The husband brought this one home in December a few years ago, and we recognised that it smells much nicer on me than on him. And maybe, if I feel extra frazzled, I'll bring out Fracas. ;)

Thank you for this great giveaway! I'm having surgery in about 10 days, so my "holidays" will consist of napping and lapping around the house. But that won't keep me from smelling good. I'll probably go for something familiar and soothing like Coromandel.

I'm probably going to rock Alexis' Poetry of Longing or Caron's L'homme for the rest of the winter. They're both part of my snuggly perfume category. Mandy of course is welcome to my address ;), and I can be reached at cgrasher AT gmail.com

Thanks for the giveaway! I wear pine fragrances year-round, but Slumberhouse Norne and Fille en Aiguilles have been in rotation a lot. My current snuggly go-to is Tom Ford Extreme. wonderchicken at gmail dot com

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